Aptitude - The Soul's Tendency to Serve
"Aptitude" refers to the natural tendency or fitness of a living entity. Śrīla Prabhupāda employs this term to explain the difference between the soul and God, the difference between material and spiritual education, and the art of engaging one's specific nature in the service of the Lord. While the conditioned soul has an aptitude for degradation, the liberated soul revives their eternal aptitude for specific loving service.
The Ontological Distinction
One of the defining characteristics of the individual soul (jīva) is its vulnerability. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that while the Supreme Lord is always infallible, the minute living entity has the aptitude to be covered by ignorance. This marginal position (taṭasthā) means the soul has the liberty to choose between the spiritual and material energies.
- The soul is fundamentally pure but he has an aptitude to come to the impure state of material contamination. He is therefore called tatastha or marginal. He has got the liberty of staying within the pure state or becoming contaminated. That is his choice.
- This (perpetual freedom from all material contaminations) distinguishes the Lord from the individual, common living entities who have the aptitude for being subordinated by nescience and thus becoming materially designated.
- From the womb of Matrka, the wife of Aryama, were born many learned scholars. Among them Lord Brahma created the human species, which are endowed with an aptitude for self-examination.
- A living entity in the conditioned stage can uncover his aptitude for serving the Absolute Truth by the grace of Krsna and the spiritual master.
Researching Aptitude vs. Mercy
In the material world, success is often determined by one's independent ability to research and discover. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that spiritual life operates on a different principle. While a "researching aptitude" is valuable for material science, spiritual realization is a descending process that depends on the mercy of the spiritual master, not just intellectual acumen.
- For advancement of material knowledge there is a need for personal ability and researching aptitude, but in the case of spiritual knowledge, all progress depends more or less on the mercy of the spiritual master.
- Continue your present aptitude and you will be successful in your spiritual progress. I am sure that even if I am not physically present before you. Still you will be able to execute all spiritual duties in the matter of Krishna Consciousness.
Dovetailing Natural Talents
Kṛṣṇa consciousness is not about stopping activities but purifying them. Śrīla Prabhupāda encourages his disciples to use their specific aptitudes—whether for languages, reading, or hearing—in the service of the Lord. For example, he noted Pradyumna's aptitude for Sanskrit and encouraged others to use their aptitude for reading fiction by reading about Kṛṣṇa's pastimes instead. Impersonalism, which seeks to negate individuality, kills this natural aptitude for devotion.
- I requested Pradyumna to learn Sanskrit very seriously. He has got the aptitude, and I hope he may come out very successful.
- I have noted that you also have the aptitude for Bengali language, so you can learn this nicely and then you will be able to preach in Bengal in the native language. It would be very effective. Also, you can chant the Gita-Gan in Bengali.
- The aptitude for hearing and reading is better utilized in hearing and reading of the Lord's activities. This will give one all-around benefit.
- Impersonalism and voidism kills the natural aptitude of devotion which is lying dormant in everyone's heart.
Varieties of Spiritual Relationship
Ultimately, aptitude finds its perfection in the specific rasa or relationship one has with Kṛṣṇa. Not everyone serves in the same way. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that Kṛṣṇa reciprocates with the specific aptitude of the devotee. Whether one is a servant, a friend, or a lover of God, that specific relationship is most relishable for that individual.
- It is said that Lord Krsna, in relation with His devotees, accepts all kinds of devotional service according to the aptitude of the devotee. In this way, Krsna reciprocates to a devotee's needs.
- Spiritual affection for the Supreme Lord is transcendental in all cases, but the individual devotee has a specific aptitude for a particular relationship, and that relationship is more relishable for him than the others.
- There are different kinds of devotees who have different aptitudes and relationships with the Supreme Lord. Any one relationship with the Lord is as good as any other because the central point is Krsna.
- These three Deities (Sri Radha-Madana-mohana, Sri Radha-Govindadeva and Sri Radha-Gopinathaji) are the life and soul of the Bengali Vaisnavas, or Gaudiya Vaisnavas, who have a natural aptitude for residing in Vrndavana.
Conclusion
Our aptitudes are not meant to be discarded or repressed. Rather, they are meant to be identified and engaged. By turning our "researching aptitude" toward the Vedas and our "hearing aptitude" toward kṛṣṇa-kathā, we uncover our original, eternal aptitude for serving the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Aptitude. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.